Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm celebrates his goal in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Fans will be buzzing about the early animosities.

And about the late comeback.

In what was certainly the most scrappy, spirited instalment of the Battle of Alberta in recent memory, the Calgary Flames stormed back with yet another third-period script-flipper in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at the Saddledome.

“That was awesome,” grinned Flames winger Sam Bennett, who set the tone with a thunderous open-ice hit on his first shift of the night. “That’s the kind of hockey I love to play, so I had a lot of fun out there.

“So many guys played with so much emotion tonight, and it’s a great feeling after that hard of a battle to come out with the win.”

Flames alternate captain Sean Monahan scored the equalizer early in the third, capitalizing after Oilers backup Mikko Koskinen kicked a generous rebound into the slot.

About seven minutes later, Elias Lindholm cashed in from the edge of the blue paint for the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner.

It was, after a feisty first period that featured one-and-a-half fights (we’ll explain later), the most fun the locals could have with their gloves on.

“That’s probably what people paid for, right?” said Flames defenceman Travis Hamonic. “Some rough stuff. A comeback. I thought we really got going at the end there.”

They certainly did, with an 18-5 edge in shots on goal during the final frame.

Oilers Leon Draisaitl takes a shot on David Rittich.Leah Hennel/Postmedia

Derek Ryan, a former standout for the Edmonton-based University of Alberta Golden Bears, also tickled twine for the Flames in Saturday’s slugfest, snapping a season-long dry-spell for Calgary’s second power-play unit.

Superstar centre Connor McDavid and old friend Alex Chiasson scored for the out-of-town team, the only blemishes in a superb performance by backup goalie David Rittich.

Chiasson opened the scoring on a shorthanded breakaway, but Rittich — likely to get a run of a few consecutive starts as Mike Smith tries to rediscover his confidence after a fall of frustration — stopped three other all-alone opportunities as part of a 24-save performance.

He twice denied Leon Draisaitl in a one-on-one showdown and also stuffed Jujhar Khaira on yet another breakaway.

“It’s my job,” shrugged Rittich, now 6-1 in seven starts this season and owner of a splendid .933 save percentage. “It’s a great feeling, but that’s why I’m in the net, making saves.”

Oilers Darnell Nurse and Sam Bennett tangle in the first period.The Flames have made a habit of third-period comebacks this season, with a league-leading six victories when trailing after 40 minutes.

Monahan surged briefly to the top of the team goal-scoring charts when he cashed in Hamonic’s rebound for the tying tally, his 10th of the campaign.

He won’t mind that he soon relinquished that perch to Lindholm.

In his first Battle of Alberta after arriving in an off-season swap from the Carolina Hurricanes, Lindholm was stopped by Koskinen on a door-step deflection, but cleaned up his own leftovers for the would-be winner. That was his 10th.

With less than a minute remaining, he bested McDavid in a key defensive-zone faceoff. A few seconds later, he fired the length of the ice for an empty-netter. Make it 11.

“It was fun,” Lindholm said of Saturday’s showdown. “It started right away with the Benny hit and then a fight … So right from the start, we were going after it. It was fun to be a part of. I’m kind of looking forward for the next game (against Edmonton).”

This latest third-period comeback will be the talk of the town, especially since it came at the expense of the arch-rival Oilers.

Unless, everybody is still gabbing about the return of some bad blood between these provincial foes. That would be understandable, too.

Not long after the national anthem, Bennett crunched Darnell Nurse in the neutral zone. One of the NHL’s toughest customers, Nurse noted the number and requested a dance a few minutes later.

Bennett landed at least one lick and escaped without any blood on his Movember ’stache.

Leon Draisaitl drew a crowd after he up-ended Matthew Tkachuk with what sure looked like a slew-foot from this vantage point.

Tkachuk, after briefly retreating to the locker-room for a medical look-see, didn’t sit out many skirmishes for the rest of the period.

Mikael Backlund slammed Edmonton’s marquee man into the boards, and McDavid responded with a headlock on Calgary’s shutdown centre.

They soon spilled to the ice, with Tkachuk — surprise, surprise — the first to join the fray.

With just a dozen seconds until the intermission, Oilers thumper Zack Kassian glided up next to Tkachuk at a faceoff.

When the puck hit the ice, he ripped his helmet off. With the Flames’ talented trouble-maker showing no interest in a scrap, Kassian dropped his gloves anyway, Tkachuk taking cover as he wailed away.

Kassian was slapped with a triple-minor —roughing + roughing + roughing — plus a 10-minute misconduct, while Bennett served a two-minute sentence after rushing to the aid of his pal.

“That’s Chucky — the greasier, the better for him,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters of Tkachuk’s prominent role in this testy tilt. So that was right in his element. He was good. Those guys like that, you need ’em. You need lots of ’em. You need guys that drag guys into the battle. It was a fun game to be a part of because of that.”

The tempers cooled slightly for the final 40 minutes, although Flames captain Mark Giordano was levelled by Oilers brute Milan Lucic as he unleashed a wrist-shot.

The locals, however, landed the last blow.

“It validates the effort and everybody laying it out on the line,” Peters said after Saturday’s win. “I thought it was a competitive hockey game. I thought there were some big hits. There were some strong plays along the wall both ways. So you have to be all-in. You have to be committed to winning your battles. They’re not sexy all the time — they don’t end up on the score-sheet all the time, they don’t end up in a scoring chance, but you have to win battles and you have to establish and maintain body position.

“And we did that tonight.”

The Flames will continue this four-game homestand with Monday’s meeting against the Vegas Golden Knights (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan.)

CONNOR’S CLASS

This is hardly Battle of Alberta bulletin-board material.

Flames summer trade acquisition Noah Hanifin heaped praise on Oilers captain Connor McDavid prior to Saturday’s clash at the Saddledome, referring to him as “one of the best players probably ever.”

A few years before winding up on the opposite side of this provincial rivalry, Hanifin experienced the buzz and hoopla that has long followed No. 97 around.

McDavid was the undisputed headliner in the lead-up to the 2015 NHL Draft, with Jack Eichel a heck of a consolation prize and Hanifin being billed as the best of the blue-line blue-chippers.

“Especially for those two guys, it was pretty crazy,” recalled Hanifin, only 21 and already in his fourth full campaign at the big-league level. “I think everyone knew it was going to be a good draft. It was a deep group, a lot of great players. But those two were obviously having special years, they’re special talents, so it probably hyped it up even more.”

The Flames’ haul included rearguards Rasmus Andersson — now a regular at the Saddledome — and Oliver Kylington in the second round and left-winger Andrew Mangiapane in the sixth.

There’s no doubt McDavid is the cream of this crop, but Hanifin currently has one claim to fame among the Class of 2015 — to date, the smooth-skating defenceman has suited up for more NHL games (259) than any of his fellow grads. (McDavid and Eichel are the only other guys who have logged upwards of 200.)

“I think everyone hits their stride at different times and everyone develops at different paces,” Hanifin said. “But to play as many games as I have, it’s been cool. It’s been my goal to play in the NHL for a long time, so I’m happy with how it’s gone so far.”

HONK FOR HOCKEY

This could cause a few awkward fender-benders.

Starting Monday, hockey fans across the Wild Rose Province can show their rooting allegiances on their rear-bumpers, with Flames and Oilers licence plates available at local registry offices.

“Now, the Battle of Alberta is also on Alberta’s roads,” quipped Brian Malkinson, the Minister of Service Alberta, during Saturday’s reveal at the Saddledome. “Be nice to each other out there.”

The best part is that money raised through the sales of the NHL vanity licence plates will benefit the charitable initiatives of the Flames Foundation and the Oilers Community Foundation.

AROUND THE BOARDS

Axed in April after two seasons as Flames head coach, Glen Gulutzan returned to his old stomping grounds Saturday as an assistant coach for the enemies. “He’s been tremendous,” said Oilers skipper Todd McLellan. “He’s a very loyal individual, the players enjoy his approach and I appreciate what he brings. He gives me another sense of what maybe a head coach would be looking at, what he prepares for. (Fellow assistant) Trent Yawney has also been that, as well, so we feel gifted with this staff” … The national women’s hockey team from India is in Calgary to participate in the Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, and they’ll be heading home with some special keepsakes after attending Saturday’s morning skates at the Saddledome. They posed for a group photo — and plenty of selfies, too — with The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and were collecting signatures and snapshots again when they met Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira, the third player of Indian descent to skate in the NHL. They also toured the home locker-room, with Flames assistant coach Martin Gelinas as their guide … Rookie speedster Dillon Dube returned to Calgary’s lineup for the Battle of Alberta, his first game action since suffering a concussion two weeks ago … Here’s hoping McMahon Stadium is jam-packed for Sunday’s West Division Final pitting the Calgary Stampeders against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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